Gum Recession Treatment - Chicago, IL

Receding Gums Can Impact Your Smile and Life

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Treat Receding Gums for Better Oral and Whole Body Health

If your mouth is healthy and normal, the visible surface area of each of your teeth is about half of the entire tooth, with a large portion under your gum tissue and jawbone. Gingival recession (commonly known as gum recession) is a widespread condition in which soft gum tissue retreats toward your tooth roots. It’s estimated that 23% of adults in the U.S. have one or more tooth surfaces with more than 3mm of gum recession. The prevalence and severity increases with age, with at least 40% of young adults and up to 88% of older adults with at least one area of gum recession measuring 1mm or larger. You can avoid the negative consequences of this condition with gum recession treatment in Chicago, IL. At Millennium Periodontics, our skilled periodontists identify the underlying cause, then determine the best non-surgical or surgical option to treat it and prevent reoccurrence.

Seek targeted treatment for gum disease in Chicago, IL from our skilled team at Millennium Periodontics.

Gum recession is associated with negative cosmetic and functional repercussions. Beyond the emotional effects of a receding gum line, you’ll likely experience increased tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperature food and beverages. As gum recession advances, you may suffer from other oral health issues such as decay, bleeding when brushing or flossing, teeth clenching or grinding, jaw soreness, and even tooth loss. In fact, receding gums are responsible for about 70% of adult tooth loss.
gum recession graphic

Common Causes of Gum Recession

Certain preexisting issues can make you more prone to gum recession. For example, gum recession is thought to be more common in people with thinner gingival tissues and tooth malposition. On the other hand, understanding preventable causes and incorporating healthier dental and lifestyle habits can reduce your risk. These include following proper oral hygiene at home, getting regular dental checkups and cleanings, and never smoking or quitting if you do.

Risk Factors

Treatment for Receding Gums

If we detect an infection in your gums, we’ll prescribe a course of antibiotics. Topical antibiotics include mouth rinse or gels containing medicated relief. Other medications may also be used to treat the underlying problem responsible for gum recession.
This is usually the most common treatment for gum recession in early stages. During this non-surgical deep cleaning, bacterial plaque is removed from above and below your gumline. Root planing smooths out rough tooth surfaces to encourage healthy tissue reattachment and protection against future infections.
Gum grafting is typically reserved for more advanced cases of gum recession. During this procedure, damaged or diseased gum tissue is surgically removed and sections of healthy gum tissue are grafted in place to restore the affected areas. The grafts are created from a small amount of healthy soft tissue from the roof of your mouth, in front of teeth with disproportionate gum coverage, or from another donor source. Gum grafts in Chicago, IL help restore the protective function, health, and aesthetics of your gum tissue.
The innovative pouch and tunnel technique invented by Dr. Edward P. Allen minimizes the risk of losing papilla height in critical areas while maximizing cosmetic results. Interdental papilla is the gum tissue in the space between your teeth. In healthy gums, this tissue protects the roots of your teeth from harmful bacteria and food particles. During this procedure, we make small incisions around each tooth with gum recession defects, as well as one additional tooth anterior and posterior to those with recession. We then elevate a pouch, extend a tunnel, and carefully detach the papillae. The type of graft used to cover roots with a tunnel flap design depends on how the flap is positioned. The graft is inserted and passed through the tunnel, then positioned with the connective tissue side facing the bone. When grafting is complete, we suture the areas and they stay in place for two months. We may be able to remove the sutures sooner if swelling has completely subsided.

Are withdrawing gums preventing you from smiling and enjoying life?

Let our skilled periodontists restore essential soft tissue in your mouth!

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